Comb guard for electric shavers



Sept. 2, 1952 JEPSON 2,608,756

\ COMB GUARD FOR ELECTRIC SHAVERS Filed Aug. 1, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR. W M Jqason ATZ'YS.

Sept. 2, 1952 I. JEPSON 2,603,756

COMB GUARD FOR ELECTRIC SHAVERS Filed Aug. 1, 1949 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INV EN TOR.

BY [bare/ an we 3 Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE. fa

COMB GUARD Fi iill oTRlc SHAVERS Ivar J epson, Oak Park, Ill., assignorto Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois '7 Claims.

V The-presentinventlon relates'to a guard for shielding surfaces requiring protection and more particularly to a guard or a comb of an electric shaver. Specifically the present invention isa continuation in part of copending application Serial No. 782,763 filed October 29, 1947, now abandoned.

Inelectric shavers of the typedisclosed and claimed in copending' shaver application, Serial No. 71,927, filed'January 21, 1949, there is providedan arcuatecomb which is a precision devicefor a manufacturing standpoint. Such combs compriseathin arcuate plate having a plurality of hair receiving openings therein as well as supporting ribs therefor. The comb is furthermore disposed so the inner surface'is in shearing engagement with an oscillating blade. In order to guard and protect such combs it is desirable to provide a comb guard which should bean inexpensive device from thestandpoint of manufacturing cost, should be of pleasing appearance, should be readily removable, and yet when attached to the comb in a protective man ner should afford full and complete protection thereto. Also, since the comb is removable from the razor for cleaning purposes and the like it is desirable that the guard should be associated with the comb in its protective position whether the comb be associated or disassociated from the shaver.

It 'is an object of the present invention to provide a guard for a comb. having thefeatures enumerated above.

Anotherobject. of the,invention is, to provide a lightweight guard of the above character which can lee-readily positioned over the surface to be shielded or protected and which can .bequickly, easily, and readily removed as desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a guard of the-above character of novel means for securing the guard to the object to be protected. p I} Another object of the-invention is to provide ax-guard of the above character that can be fashioned by a relatively simple forming process. Another object of the invention is to provide a guard'of the above character which is of relatively lightweight construction, which is relativelystrong anddurablawhichis simple to construct, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects and; advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterizejthe invention will be pointed out with particularity-intheaclaims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification. i

For a better understanding of the presenting vention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which: A

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a comb guard em: bodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing thecomb guard shielding the comb of an electric shaver:

Fig. 3 is a cutaway elevational, view of the cutting portion of an electric shavershowing the comb guard in position thereon;

Fig.4 is anend view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, isa perspective view similar to Fig. showing a modification of the present invention? Fig. 6 is asectional view similar to Fig.2 show ing the guard of Fig. 5 associated with an elsetric shaver; and I Fig.- 7 is an elevational view partly in sectionoi an electric shaver embodying the comb guard shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The present invention is concerned with a guard for protecting delicate surfaces which guard is of lightweight construction and yet sum: ciently strong to provide adequate protection and which guard can quickly and easily be located in shielding position relative to the delicate surface to be protected and which furthermore can also readily be removed from thesurfacewhich is being protected thereby. Since the present in; vention is particularly applicable for protecting arcuate shapedcombs of electric shavers of, the type disclosed in United States LettersPatenf 2,234,891 it is illustrated and describedpin con: nection with such specific application.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, there is i-lli1's trated an electric shaver 1.3 which hasmounted at oneedge thereof a cutting surface comprising an arcuate comb II which includes supporting means in the. form of .ribs l2- The comb-surface has aplurality. of hair receiving openings-and, also normally attached to the supporting ribs l-2 to form a removable unit as is fully disclosed in the above mentioned Letters Patent.

In accordance with the present inventionla comb guard generally designated as -l5 isprovided. which is formedof relatively thinlightweight resilient sheet stock comprising a cen-v tral arcuate shaped portion l4 andspaeediope posed edge portions l6 and I1 integrally formed with the central portion l4. 7 T

The'radius of curvature ofthe central portion l4.may be substantially the same astheradius of curvature of the comb ll whereby theguard is shown in the drawings as serving to protect an arcuate shaped surface such as that of the comb H, it can also be used to protect other delicate surfaces.

For the purpose of providing increased strength the guard 15 is shaped in a predetermined manner thereby to increase the strength and rigidity of the central portion it. This means for increasing the stren th and rigidity may take several forms,

two of which are disclosed in the two modifications of the present invention illustrated in the drawings. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawin s the central portion i l of the guard I5 is provided with a plurality of alternately spaced ridges l8 and grooves 19, which are formed there in by a simple stamping operation preferably simultaneously with the original forming of the guard I5. These ridges and grooves 18 and 19 respectively extend from the edge portion it to the edge portion II. The central portion I l of the guard 35 therefore presents a corrugated surface. It will be apparent that in addition to increasing the strength of the guard the ridges [8 provide line surfaces for engagement with foreign objects that might bump the guard. Furthermore the surface contact friction is reduced by virtue of the line contact with the ridges l8 thereby causing foreign obiects which mi ht bump the guard to be deflected more readily. The

ridges I 8 are spaced from the protected surface ll sothat even if the grooves 19 touch the protected surface as indicated in 3 the maior portions of the ridges It would tend to deflect without transmitting the shock of the comb. It should be understood that in what is believed atv present to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, no portion of the guard will touch the main 'cutting surface of the comb so that considerable shock can be absorbed either in the corrugations themselves or in the guard before any force is transmitted to the protected surface l I through the guard i5. This is true particularly because the guard is formed of lightweight resilient material which will tend to deflect and absorb considerable shock in so doing; If the defiection can occur without causing the central portion M of the guard i5 to touch the comb ll, obviouslythe shock will have been absorbed completely without even affecting the protected surface.

For'the purpose of securing the guard E5 in a shielding position with respect, to the comb l l, the guard, is provided adjacent the four corners thereof with projections 22 adapted tcinterfit wth spaced recesses EZdefined in the arcuate comb II and the comb support !2. The projections 2| are preferably formed by a'simple forming operation comprising deforming the edge portion I6 and I! so that protrusions are produced which may be inserted into the recesses 22. These protrusions 2! as is clearly evidenced from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings are formed in the concave surface of the guard is and the protrusions on opposite edges of the guard tend to face each other. As illustrated two protrusions 4 2! are provided on each edge of the guard cooperating with two recesses 22 formed on each side of the arcuate comb H. It should be understood that any number of desired projections or protrusions 2i may be employed. It will furthermore be obvious that the projections might be formedon the comb H and the recesses defined in the guard i5, although it is preferable not to have projections on the comb near the face engaging portion thereof for the particular applica tion illustrated.

It will be understood that arcuate combs such as the comb H are removable from the shaver i3 for cleaning purposes and the like as well as to afford access to the oscillating blade arranged in shearing relationship therewith. With the present invention where the guard 16 is effectively clipped to the comb, it may be attached thereto both when the comb is associated with the shaver and also when the comb is removed therefrom, thus protecting the delicate comb structure under all conditions. In prior art arrangements the comb guards employed were usually associated with the shaver per se and would not provide the protecting function of the present comb guard when the comb was removed from the shaver.

The use of the projections 21 for securing the guard iii in place relative to the comb I I depends to a considerable extent upon the resiliency of the material used in forming the guard and the particular shape of the guard utilized. Preferably the edge portion it and I! of the guard. l5 are normally biased towards each other so as to require spreading thereof when placing the guard on the comb. This spreading action stressesthe central portion 14 and insures that theproj'ections 2! inte fit with the recesses 22 to secure the guard is in position. As has been mentioned above when the guard is in position the shape is preferably such that the central portion is displaced from the comb as shown in Fig. 6 ofthe drawings although where corrugations are employed the grooves 29 may touch the comb H and still afford sufficient protection} Since the comb structure H is a precision device accurately formed in the manufacture of the shaver to 'a degree of accuracy far exceeding that of any other part of the shaver the recesses 22 will be very accurately formed there in. Consequently, much greater accuracy with respect to the relationship of the guard with the comb is obtained as contrasted with arrangements where the comb is attached to the shaver and the guard attached to the shaver also. With the present arrangement proper positioninglis insured in the relationship between the comb and guard due to the accuracy with which. the comb was manufactured. It will be understood that considerable leeway in the manufacture of comb guards such as [5 for shaver i3 is possible with; respect to the spacing between the edges is and I! of the guard 15 due to the in herent resilience thereof. Although the comb guard l l is a relatively delicate member the supporting structure associated is sufiiciently strong to withstand any reasonable pressures applied by the guard by reason of an extremely snug fit between the edge portions l5 and i'i of the guard and the comb H. i

For the purpose of facilitating the removal and replacement of the guard [5 relative to the shaver 13 there are provided laterally'extending flanges 23 which are integral with the edges 16 and I1. As illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings these flanges are effectively extensions of the extreme outer edges of the portions It and I1.

'It iwill be=understood'that the guard |5 described above can-.readily-be madeas a sheet metal stamping "lin a simple and inexpensive manner, the {guard preferablybeing formed by a single stampin'goperation. The, guard furthermorecanbe quickly and easily removed from the shaver 3' or applied thereto. To remove the-guard from'the shaver l3itis only necessary to-engage onset the flanges 23' with ones thumb and the other" flange 23 with a finger of the same hand. A slight pulling force tends to spread the'portions l6-and |-1-of the-guard I5 apart so that the projections 2| slide out of the rscesses-i2 2. When the guard is removed it assumes an unstressed-position i1'1-'WhlOh the portions l6.

and |1 are moved closer to each other than is probably the case when the guard is associated with the-comb as -is shown in 'Fig. 2'; To replace the guard 5 it is merely necessary to hold the guard in anysuitable manner'as for example between the thumb and forefinger of the hand and-push it into place with the projections 2| lined up with the recesses 22. The portions l6 and l! are caused to spread apart against the inherent 'resilienceiof the central portion l4 and a slight lateral movement when the guard is approximately-inpositionwill cause the projections 2| to snap into the recesses 22. The inherent resilience of the guard will maintain the projections 2| in the recesses 22 thus securing the guard in the shielding position.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings there is illustrated a modification of the present'invention in which a shaver generally designated as 29 is provided with a guard 30 having a central portion 3| and edge portions 32 and 33 corresponding respectively with the portions I4, I 6 and ll of the guard l5. As in the preceding embodiment the guard 30 is adapted to be associated with the comb having a comb supporting structure |2 with recesses 22 defined therein. The corresponding parts of Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are designated by the same reference numerals as in the preceding figures insofar as possible.

For the purpose of increasing the inherent strength and rigidity of the guard 30 without employing the corrugations comprising the ridges I8 and grooves IS, the guard 30 is arched lengthwise as is clearly indicated in Fig. '7 of the drawings. This arching is produced by a stamping operation which stretches the metal and reinforces the same in a manner which is equivalent to the corrugations or ribs of the preceding embodiment. As is clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings the central portion 3| of the guard 30 is spaced a substantial distance from the comb [I so that a considerable distortion of the guard 30 is necessary before it engages the delicate comb surface. In this manner a substantial portion of any shock applied to the guard 30 is absorbed without transmitting the same to the comb. For further strengthening the guard, if desired, suitable creases or deformations such as 34 may be provided at either end thereof having a different radius of curvature than the central portion 3| of the guard. If desired, the ends of the guard may rest on the casing portion of the shaver 29 so that the shielding portion of the guard is completely spaced from the comb as is shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. As in the preceding embodiment the guard 3| may be removed with the comb to protect the same when the latter is not associated with the comb.

While there have been shown and described an arcuate shaped comb, a comb guard for said comb comprising an arcuate shaped central porntion and spaced opposed edge portions formed.

from asingle piece ofv resilient material, said guard being additionally distorted in shape to strengthen the same, said central portion of :said

guard being shaped to overlie said comb; means" formed on said edgeportions of said guard and cooperating means formed on said comb-to secure said guard in a shielding position directly to said comb and overlying said comb whereby said guard may shield said comb whether or not said comb is attached to said razor, extension means on said edge portion of the guard defininga finger catch for aiding in removing :said guard f'romsaid comb, said'central'portion ot s'a-idguard being of such resilient character that whensaid guard is positioned in shielding'relationship with said comb said opposed edge portions are stressed positively to interlock said respective means on said comb and edge portions.

2. A comb guard for an electric razor of the type having an arcuate shaped comb with spaced recesses defined on opposite sides of the comb, comprising a flexible member formed of resilient material having an arcuate shaped central portion and spaced opposed edge portions, said arcuate shaped edge portion shaped to overlie said arcuate comb, projections on said edge portions cooperable with said spaced recesses releasably to fasten said guard directly to said comb, and grasping means comprising an extension formed on at least one of said edge portions for removing and positioning said guard relative to said comb, said central portion being of such resilient nature that when said guard is positioned in shielding relationship with respect to said comb that said opposed edge portions are spread apart and placed under stress positively to secure said projections in said recesses.

3. A guard for a body having a predetermined curved surface and. having recesses formed therein comprising, an arcuate member formed from resilient material having a curved portion shaped to overlie the curved surface of said body in a nesting protective manner and normally spaced further therefrom at the center portion thereof than at any other portion, projections formed on opposite extreme edges of said curved portion shaped to interfit in said recesses in said body,

said member being curved in such a manner relative to said body as to require stressing in placing said guard on said comb whereby the inherent resilience of said member maintains said projections in said recesses thereby positively to maintain the guard in position, and flanges formed on opposite edges of said curved portion projecting outwardly therefrom to form means for grasping said guard.

4. A guard for an arcuate shaped body having fastening means associated therewith, comprising an arcuate shaped member formed from resilient material and being more concave than said body even when associated with said body, flanges integral with the edge portions of said member and extending outwardly therefrom, and means integral with said member cooperable with said fastening means on said body for securing the guard in position.

5. In combination, an electric razor having an arcuate shaped comb, a guard formed from resilient material comprising a curved portion having alternately spaced ridges and grooves for strengthening said portion, said curved portion shaped to overlie said arcuate shaped comb, and afiange integral with said curved portion forming a manually actuable means for said guard whereby the latter can be readily positioned and removed, and means acting between said comb and said guard for securing said latter member directly to said comb in shielding relationship thereto.

6. A guard for a body having an arcuate shaped surface including recesses defined at predetermined positions on the arcuate surface of said body, comprising an arcuate shaped member formed from resilient material and slightly more concave than said body even when associated with said body whereby the center portion of said guard is spaced further from said body than any other portions of said guard, and projections formed on opposite sides of said arcuate member shaped to be received by said recesses in said body 8 when the member is in shielding relation with respect to the body to lock the guard in position.

7. A guard for a razor having an arcuate comb including guard fastening means defined thereon, comprising an arcuate sheet metal stamping of light weight shaped to have sufiicient strength for protecting said arcuate comb, said guard having a curved portion shaped to overlie said comb in nesting relationship, with the center portion spaced. therefrom to a greater extent than the spacing between other portions of said guard and comb to limit jamming of said guard against said comb when an external force is applied to said guard while on said comb, means integral with said curved portion cooperable with said guard fastening means for securing said guard directly to said comb whether or not said comb is associated with said razor, and means integral with said curved portion for grasping said guard to position and remove the same with respect to said comb.

IVAR JEPSON.

REFERENCES CITED i The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,192,726 Williams Mar. 5, 1940 2,320,807 Upham June 1, 1943 

